cutting_edgex23 | We're different behind the eyes

X is used to crowds, she lives--lived--in a school for a year. What X isn't used to are crowds of kids that aren't worrying whether or not they're going to be attacked by fanatics, gods from alternate dimensions, angry superhumans, or ultra-secret government labs.

It's why she hangs back a little at first, surveying the scene, building the profile of the girl she is going to pretend to be. If her attention lingers on a few of the couples--including Rose and her team-captain boyfriend--eyes narrowing as she studies their behavior, it's just because they stand out a little more than the rest. Really.

X's gaze flicks to the girl sitting next to her. She has red hair, freckles, and almost drops her slice of pizza when she catches X's gaze.

Then Laura smiles. "Sorry, can you pass me a couple napkins? I'm not--Rose said I could crash, but I think I've lost track of everyone's names and whether they're JV or varsity. I'm Laura."

Small chat when on a mission is not hard. X is good at pretending. And if, by the end of the night, her persona is slipping enough for her to start dropping contractions and saying 'do not get killed' instead of 'goodbye'--

Who's really going to notice?